Julian Bævre is severely visually impaired. – These glasses help me see. Because you see, I can’t stand such bright light, explains the 7-year-old about the filter glasses he wears at home. He has to live with that for the rest of his life. In the first years at Høvik School in Bærum, Julian has to learn both to understand the normal alphabet, but also to read with his fingers. But parents Gisle Bævre and Mette Silihagen Bævre believe this learning has been disastrous. In his first year at school, he only got 8 of the 114 extra hours he is entitled to. – I see that as extremely objectionable, says Mette. Julian has not received all the education he is entitled to, says the family. Photo: Erlend Dalhaug Daae / Erlend Dalhaug Daae Does not meet the requirements More than two years before Julian started at Høvik School, the parents visited the principal. Here they gave a clear message that the school will soon have a severely visually impaired student, and that they must start making arrangements for him. The school was not only responsible for teaching him to use blind technical aids and to read and write braille in the normal school hours, but they were also to give him 114 extra hours a year to learn this. In the first year he got eight of these hours, in the second year he got about half. For the last six months, however, he has had these lessons at Høvik School. Nevertheless, parents fear that he will fall off the load socially and academically, if he does not receive good enough organized training, or tasks he can master. – We don’t have any more school years to lose, says Mette. Julian’s family wants to move him from Høvik school. Photo: Erlend Dalhaug Daae / Erlend Dalhaug Daae – And is he entitled to these hours? – Julian is entitled to the hours he has decided on. This training is crucial for him to be able to learn in the ordinary school hours, and to get through 13 years of schooling. Without this additional training, he will not be able to fulfill his right to education. Fears he will fall off the load The parents applied to move Julian from Høvik to Berg School in Oslo, where the parents believe they are much more competent to handle visually impaired students. Here he was offered a guest spot. But Bærum municipality refused the application. Julian’s parents do not believe that the municipality and the school management are able to understand the extent of their son’s need for accommodation. They believe this makes Julian an outsider, both socially and educationally. Julian himself says that the learning is going well, for the most part: – Apart from Braille, I would like to get some extra help with that. Earlier this year, news wrote about the digital tools that have been used in schools and that lack a universal design. The parents complained about this to the Discrimination Board. The parents emphasize that it is not the teachers who are to blame, but those responsible for hiring and facilitating: the municipality and the school management. Machines like this allow Julian to use different strokes to write Braille. Photo: Erlend Dalhaug Daae / Erlend Dalhaug Daae – When they don’t consider that the teachers’ vision skills are important, they put the teachers who are tasked with following up Julian in a completely impossible situation, says Mette. The family has complained about the refusal to move Julian to a new school, and the politicians in the municipality will look into the matter on 16 August. Different points of view The municipality does not completely agree with the assessments the parents have made. – It is very sad that they experience and describe it like that. Parents and the school probably have slightly different opinions here. That’s what section leader for primary schools and PPT Julie Ek Holst-Jæger says. The municipality refused the application for relocation because they believe Julian has a positive development at Høvik. There are two different points of view as to whether Julian has received good or bad provision, says Bærum municipality. Photo: Erlend Dalhaug Daae / news – The point of assessment was whether the student has had a positive academic progression at his community school. The student has, so absolutely. We have documented this. In addition, we have now employed a vision teacher for the local school, says Holst-Jæger. Bærum municipality does not recognize the allegations of poorly assessed appointments, and lack of follow-up and facilitation at the school. – We have collaborated closely throughout the student’s entire school career and we will continue to do so for the student’s best interests, Holst-Jæger responds to the allegations. – Is it true that Julian only got 8 of the 114 hours he was granted in his first year at primary school? – These are hours that come in addition to a normal school day. The school then considered, in consultation with the PPT service and Statped, that this was quite tiring for the student – having to have extra hours in addition to a long school day, says Holst-Jæger and adds: Julian prefers the projector light. It’s easier on his eyes. Photo: Erlend Dalhaug Daae / Erlend Dalhaug Daae – We only have to regret this in retrospect because it was not discussed enough with the parents, and that they were not allowed to express their views on that question. The 114 extra hours correspond to three extra hours of learning per week. The parents believe that Julian has taken this seriously over the past six months, when he got the lessons he was entitled to. Wanting to start over After Julian’s first year at primary school, the parents received a report. It showed that Julian struggled to achieve many of the academic goals. – He needs competent people around him who make the right decisions every day, every hour and for every task he is given, says Mette. The parents believe that the positive development the municipality is aiming for is despite the fact that he has not received the necessary accommodation. The family hopes they can give Julian a new start. Photo: Erlend Dalhaug Daae / Erlend Dalhaug Daae – Lack of provision over time means that he falls off the load and will need even more special education outside the classroom, says Gisle. The parents now want a fresh start for Julian.
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Blind Julian (7) did not get the extra school hours he was entitled to – news Oslo and Viken – Local news, TV and radio
